Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta (ALMA)

Posted in: Community Development Leadership & Engagement

In 2021, ALMA is … ALMA Workshop!

The 2021 Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta program is seeking experienced artists, arts administrators, designers, urban planners, and local government officials to participate in a unique edition of ALMA aimed at developing creative, cross-sector proposals to community planning challenges. We’re calling it ALMA Workshop.

This special cohort of leaders will come together to learn about the arts in planning and then collaborate as creative project teams to address community needs with an arts and culture focus. Sessions will help participants understand why and how artists and arts organizations can be an essential part of civic, planning, and development processes. We will also discuss best practices for arts and culture and creative placemaking for the Atlanta region.

The 2021 program will include four virtual class sessions capped by group presentations and a distinguished panel review. Read more about it on What’s Next ATL.

The 2021 ALMA Workshop class has completed (see the 2021 ALMA Workshop class list). Information about the 2022 ALMA program will be announced in Fall 2021.

Who should apply to ALMA Workshop?

  • ALMA Alumni from previous years — if you went through ALMA before, you are encouraged to apply — this will be a different experience!
  • Artists, arts administrators, and arts and culture professionals interested in advocacy, community engagement, and civic participation
  • Urban planners, urban designers, architects, developers, and landscape architects
  • Public officials with a desire to incorporate the arts into policy and programming
  • Philanthropic professionals responsible for funding in arts and culture, urban planning, place-based community development, and civic engagement

Application Timeline

Information about the 2022 ALMA program will be available in Fall 2021.

Class Schedule

  • A class schedule for the 2022 class will be announced in Fall 2021
  • In 2021, classes will took place online between March and May, 2021 (March 17, March 31, April 14, and May 12) with a final presentation on June 9. Days were scheduled 9AM to 3PM (with breaks)

Cost

  • Cost details for the 2022 program will be updated in Fall 2021
  • In 2021, The cost of the program is $350 for employees of local government, businesses, and foundations. Working, self-employed artists and employees of arts and culture-based nonprofits, if selected for the program, are eligible to participate in the program at no cost. Stipends of $250 will be awarded to 10 participants with preference given to working artists and culture bearers. Due to the fact that we are unable to meet in person, this cost above is lower than a typical year.

What about the typical ALMA program?

  • The ARC is evaluating the ALMA and ALMA Workshop programs and will be share information about the 2022 program in Fall 2021.

Recent ALMA alumni include:

  • Waverly Lucas, Co-Founder/Director, Ballethnic Dance Company
  • Susan Mitchell, Executive Director, Dunwoody Nature Center
  • Karim Shariff, Board Chair, Dad’s Garage Theater Company
  • Doreen Williams, Commissioner, Rockdale County
  • Margarita Moldovan, Director of Education and Programs, Cubamerica Foundation
  • Vikki Morrow, Executive Director, National Black Arts Festival
  • Malika Whitley, CEO & Founder, ChopArt
  • Dominique Holloman, Chief of Staff, Office of State Representative William Boddie
  • Ivan Pulinkala, Dean of the College of Arts, Kennesaw State University
  • Marion Phillips, Economic Development Research Analyst, Georgia Power
  • Donna Jackson, Principal, Clayton County Public Schools
  • Sarah LaDart, Economic Development Manager, City of Milton
  • Emily Lightner, Executive Director, Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville

ALMA participants are selected by the ALMA steering committee, a group of Atlanta Regional Council (ARC) staff and selected ALMA alumni. The committee seeks to select a diverse group of individuals with respect to ethnicity, gender, age, geography, profession, community service, and demonstrated leadership.

ALMA Speakers

Past speakers include:

  • Joe Bankoff (Georgia Tech and Chair of the Fulton County Arts Council)
  • Shanequa Gay (artist)
  • Bem Joiner (President and CEO, Atlanta Influences Everything)
  • Amir Farokhi (City Council, City of Atlanta)
  • Doug Shipman (President and CEO, Woodruff Arts Center)
  • Carlton Mackey (Director, Ethics & the Arts, Emory University)
  • Josh Jackson (Editor-in-Chief, Paste Magazine)
  • Lain Shakespeare (Corporate Citizenship Director, MailChimp)
  • Anthony Rodriguez (Producing Artistic Director, Aurora Theatre)
  • Senator PK Martin (Georgia Senate)
  • Doug Hooker (Executive Director, Atlanta Regional Commission)
  • Julie Rhoad (President, The AIDS Quilt)

Testimonials

“I went to [an ARC workshop session on economic competitiveness] today and WOW.  It was great!  ALMA really helped me feel comfortable doing something like that and joining in the conversation.  I feel like what we learned and discussed in ALMA gave me the tools and ignited my passion to participate more in shaping our region.”

Gretchen E. Butler, Theatrical Outfit; 2017 ALMA graduate

Questions?

Contact Josh Phillipson
jphillipson@atlantaregional.org
470-378-1522

Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta (ALMA) is a program of the Atlanta Regional Commission. ARC is the regional planning agency for the Atlanta region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties, as well as the City of Atlanta.

ARC Annual Partners

ARC’s Strategic Partners are committed to fostering collaborative regional approaches that improve quality of life in metro Atlanta. Their support elevates ARC leadership programs, research and events throughout the year. Learn more